Tasty Trucks

The current trend in NYC is trucks that serve awesome food. In fact, they have awards "The Vendys" for the best truck food. Below are a few of my favorites. Try to visit a few when you are in NYC:

The Treats Truck

Below is the general schedule, but the locations change, so check the website or follow on twitter for exact times and locations.

Tue: 12-3:30: 38th & 5th Ave
4:15-6: 5th Ave & 15th or 16th

Wed: 12-3:30: 45th & 6th Ave
4:15-6: 6th Ave & 20th St

Thr: 12-3: 38th & 5th
4-5:30: Bway in 80's
7-10: 142 Wooster

Fri: 12-3:30: 45th St. & 6th Av.
4:30-6: 5th Av. & 22nd St

Sat: Varies


The Cupcake Truck

Tuesday thru Sunday:
9:30am - 5pm: 5th Avenue bet. 22nd and 23rd Street*
6pm - 10pm: 23rd Street bet. 7th and 8th Avenue*

*these locations are subject to change - follow them on twitter for exact locations
T: (718)702-2825


The Sweets Truck

I haven't pinned down the schedule for this truck yet. Check out their website
for exact location and times.

The Dessert Truck

Wed - Fri: 12 - 3 - E 55th St (NE corner at Lexington)
Mon - Sun: 6PM - midnight - St Mark's Pl (8th St and 3rd Ave)

Waffles Dinges

Mondays:
8 - 4: Wall Street area - check the hotline or Twitter
4 - 10: Broadway between 71st and 72nd

Tuesday:
8am - 4pm: Hudson Street between King and W. Houston
4pm - 10pm: Trader Joe's on 14th between 3rd and 4th Aves

Wednesday:
8am - 4pm: 52nd Street between 6th and 7th Aves
4pm - 10pm: 86th between 2nd and 3rd, in front of the Sovereign Bank

Thursday:
8am - 4pm: 45th Street at NW corner with 6th Ave
4pm - 10pm: Greenwich Street, near Duane, in front of the Food Emporium

Friday:
8am - 2pm: 47th between 2nd and 3rd (near 3rd)
5pm - 10pm: 7th Ave, near Christopher Street (West side of 7th St.)

Saturday
9am - 5pm: Park Slope - 7th Ave and Carroll Street
6pm - 10pm: 7th Ave, near Christopher Street (West side of 7th St.)

Sunday
9am - 10pm: 86th Street between 2nd and 3rd, in front of the Sovereign Bank

25 NYC Activities

Everyone knows some of the highlights of NYC include the Empire State Building, the Brooklyn Bridge, The Statue of Liberty, the Modern Museum of Art, the Met, the Natural Museum of History and Central Park when they are in NYC. However, over at Walking Off the Big Apple, Teri Tynes has compiled a list of 25 Great Things to do in NYC. The list includes:

1. Taking the Tram to Roosevelt Island
2. Riding a bike through Times Square
3. Find places mentioned in Breakfast at Tiffany's
4. Visit Grant's Tomb

But don't take my word for it. To get the full list, and additional information on each activity, check it out: http://www.walkingoffthebigapple.com/2009/07/25-great-things-to-do-in-new-york-city.html

Hitting the beach

Now that we live in NJ, I'm sure many of our visitors will want to hit up the NJ shores. Here are some options for getting ways to get to the beaches so you can get some rays posted on New York's Sixth.

NJ Transit Beach SpecialTake NJ Transit to the beach and receive discounts on the beach tags.

Atlantic City Express
Take the ACES train from New York / Newark Penn Station to Atlantic City.

Sandy Hook, by Boat
Take SeaStreak to Sandy Hook from Manhattan.

Shopping in NYC, part III

Corporette.com has posted its 3rd from their NYC shopping guide series. This third installment really concentrates on deals (with a little window shopping thrown in for good measure ... cause it's free...) Below is a summary of her list of where to shop to get a steal:

1) Century 21
2) Macy's
3) Sample Sales
4) Woodbury Commons
5) I'll make my own suggestion of Jersey Gardens since for our visitors it is close

If you want to see how the other half lives, and are content to do some window shopping, check out these locations:

1) Barney’s
2) Tourneau
3) Chanel
4) Bergdorf Goodman
5) Henri Bendel
6) Saks

Seriously though, check out the post on the website. It includes much more information than I've provided on my list such as more stores, what the stores are known for, directions, restaurants in the area to try, etc... For more (and there is much much more), check out the the website here: http://corporette.com/2009/06/25/where-to-shop-in-nyc-part-iii/

Max Brenner - Chocolate by the Bald Man

Normally, our visitors come to us to get ideas about what they should do while in town, and we're usually able to provide a list of our favorite places to eat, adn sometimes our favorite things to do. However, every once in a while someone who is visiting us turns us onto something in NYC that is so awesome we're amazed we've missed it. My SIL Ulrica introduced us to Max Brenner. This is chocolate nirvana, but they also have regular menu items for those crazy crazy people who aren't as in love with chocolate as I am.



This is the Union Square location, my favorite of the two.



This picture is just to give you an idea of how they incorporate the chocolate theme into all aspects of the restaurant, not just the menu.



And this loveliness is aptly called the "chocolate mess". I highly recommend it.

Information
Website: http://www.maxbrenner.com/
841 Broadway (between 13th and 14th Streets)
Hours of Operation:
Mon – Thurs - 09:00am – Midnight
Fri - Sat - 09:00am – 02:00am
Sun - 09:00am – 11pm

OR

141 Second Avenue (at 9th Street)
Hours of Operation:
Mon – Thurs - 10:00am – 11:00pm
Fri - Sat - 10:00am – 01:00am
Sun - 10:00am – 11:00pm

Shopping in NYC, Part II

Corporette.com has posted a second in a series discussing where to shop in NYC when you don't want to drop insane amounts of cash. Below is a summary of her list of where to shop in Soho:

1) Uniqlo (Japan)
2) Zara (Spain)
3) Mango (Spain)
4) Eryn brinie (Korea)
5) TopShop (UK)
6) Kenneth Cole
7) Banana Republic
8) A/X Armani Exchange
9) Express
10) Esprit
11) Aldo
12) Sephora
13) H&M
14) Steven by Steve Madden
15) Bloomingdale’s.
16) Madewell
17) J.Crew

Below is a snippet from her post. For more (and there is much much more), check out the full post. Seriously. Click the link and check it out.

Starting at Houston and Broadway (and for those of you not familiar with New York, Houston is pronounced “How-ston,” not “Huw-ston”), head south along Broadway. Between Houston and Grand Street, you’ll find a slew of international stores that have limited locations in the United States, including Uniqlo (Japan), Zara (Spain), Mango (Spain), Eryn brinie (Korea), and TopShop (UK). All of these have reasonably-priced casual clothes, as well as a fair amount of work-appropriate clothes such as blazers, dresses, and blouses. Along this same stretch you’ll pass stalwarts such as Kenneth Cole, Banana Republic, A/X Armani Exchange, Express, Esprit, Aldo, Sephora, H&M, Steven by Steve Madden, and, of course, Bloomingdale’s. (The frozen yogurt at Bloomie’s is well worth a stop if you’re in the mood for a snack.) Also along this stretch is Madewell, J.Crew’s new store.

Shopping in NYC

A lot of our visitors are looking for great places to go shopping in NYC, places that aren't available in the average mall in suburbia. Unfortunately, I don't normally have advice on that front, but today I read an entry on Corporate.com, a blog that I frequent, which I think is particularly helpful. Don't forget to read the comments because there are some nuggets in there too:

Here is a sneakpeak of the posting at Corporette.com:

Ah, a leisurely day of shopping in NYC — what fun! Given your price range and your goals, we’d recommend a few different stretches, depending on your time and energy. First up, we’ll talk about the area we’ll call Lower Fifth Avenue. Photo: Flatiron Building, originally uploaded to Flickr by sunsurfr. (The Flatiron Building is at 23d and 5th. It’s beautiful, but not really noteworthy as a shopping destination in and of itself.)

Depending on where you’re coming from, you’ll want to start either at 22d and 5th Avenue and work your way south (along Fifth) or at 15th and 5th, and work your way north. Destination points for a good selection of work clothes, in your price range, include: Club Monaco, BCBG/Max Azria, United Colors of Bennetton, White House | Black Market, and Zara....

click here to read more (or copy and paste the following link: http://corporette.com/2009/06/18/reader-mail-where-to-shop-in-nyc-part-1/)

American Girl

A great place to go with kids or with a few girl friends is the American Girl store in Manhattan. The dolls are beautiful, they have a hospital, a photo studio, and a hair salon (for the dolls). If you're looking for an activity for the adults, there is an adorable restaurant in the top of the store. Check it out, it's a great girly thing to do in the city.










Store Address
609 Fifth Avenue at 49th Street
New York, NY 10017
1-877-247-5223

Store Hours

* Mon–Thur: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
* Fri: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
* Sat: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
* Sun: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Row, row, row your boat in Central Park

One thing that I always find surprising about NYC is the number of boating activities that there are. A great way to spend a sunny afternoon in NYC is by heading to the Boat House in Central Park and renting a row boat.

You get to walk through the park, and maybe make a few detours, as well as getting to row on the lake with the fabulous NYC skyline as a backdrop. Consider bringing a snack or beverages for the boat ride, or for a picnic on the lawn afterwards.

Info:

Location: East 72nd St. & Park Drive North

Phone: 212-517-2233

Hours: April 15 through October 31 - Daily 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM - Weather permitting

Price: Each rowboat is $10 per hour. Each additional half-hour is $5. There is a $30 deposit per boat.A single rowboat holds up to 4 people.

Directions: Take the 6 train to 68th street. Walk North to 72nd street and then East to Central Park. Check the Central Park Boat House website here for a good map.

Not dead yet

I seem to have abandoned this blog. I think my first attempt was simply too big. From now on, my suggestions will on a much smaller scale.

Lets see how it goes ...

Restaurant Week 2009 - Extended

If you went out for dinner in NYC every single evening for your entire life, you could eat at a different restaurant every single evening. Unfortunately, B and I have our regular haunts and we have trouble convincing ourselves to deviate from our favorites. However, when Restaurant Week rolls around we are usually able to get ourselves to try something new.

I was very happy this morning when I read that Restaurant Week 2009 is being extended. Click HERE for more details about which restaurants are participating in the extended RW.

Follow this Link for more information about the "regularly scheduled" Restaurant Week.

Macaroni and Cheese Nirvana - S'mac

Another of my favorite places, S'mac is a great food option in the city that is wallet friendly. You will leave S'mac full, happy, and better yet, the damage will only be $8-$12 per person. My favorite is the alpine with extra bacon. The cheeseburger mac n' cheese is another favorite.

Don't get discouraged if there is a line and no place to sit when you walk in. The turn over is pretty quick, so by the time your mac n' cheese is ready to be eaten, you'll have a table.

If you eat your mac n' cheese at the restaurant, you will be given a number so that the waiters can find you when your mac n' cheese is finished. The cheesy goodness is served in a cast iron skillet that has baked to perfection keeping the outside crispy and the inside ooey gooey (this is technical jargon).

If the weather is nice, consider ordering your mac n' cheese to go and head over to Tompkins Square Park a few blocks away (Avenues A to B, and East 7 to East 10 streets).

You might not believe me when you see the cast iron dishes, but a Nosh sized mac n' cheese is more than enough for one person. However, if you have a little room after you've finished, consider heading over to ChikaLicious (203 E. 10th St.) or the Dessert Club (204 E. 10th Street) for dessert.

Warning, these are not activities for those who are on a diet. However, if you want to take the weekend off from your diet, S'mac is definitely worth it!

Info:
Website: http://www.smacnyc.com/
Location: 345 East 12th Street (btw 1st and 2nd Avenue), NY, NY 10003
Phone: 212-358-7912
Hours: Sunday - Thursday 11:00am - 11:00pm; Friday - Saturday 11:00am - 1:00am
Directions: Take the L train to 14th Street and 1st Avenue; 6 train to Astor Place (short walk), or take any of the trains that stop at Union Square (short walk).

Cause baby it's cold outside

When it's cold outside, I want comfort food. There aren't many foods that I find more comforting than chocolate. Mmmm... Cho-co-late....

The Chocolate Room has been a long standing staple in Park Slope, however I don't generally stray that far so I was thrilled when they recently opened a second location in Cobble Hill. When you arrive, you are greeted with water and a free sample of a chocolate treat (there are also generally free samples at the to go counter).

The dessert menu has a little something for everyone. If you don't like chocolate, don't worry, there is ice-cream, milkshakes, cookies, even wine and beer (both alcohol and root) on the menu to make and keep you happy.

Whether you're out with the kids, a few friends, or you're on a date, the Chocolate Room is a Cobble Hill must do. In fact, why not make a stop at the Cobble Hill movie theater next door for a blockbuster or independent flick before or after your chocolate treats to round out your day.

This place is so tasty that a few of my friends from Queens have taken 2 pilgrimages to Brooklyn in the last month, simply for the Chocolate Brown Sundae. They came, they ate, they conquored, they drove back to Queens, but not before making a date with me to meet them at the Chocolate room in two weeks.

Information
Website: http://www.thechocolateroombrooklyn.com/
Hours: 12:00 - 11:00pm (Midnight on Friday's and Saturdays)
Location: 269 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Phone: 718-246-2600
Directions: Google Map Link

Ice skating in the city

Most people have had the opportunity to go ice-skating while growing up, but there is something that is just extra special about ice skating in NYC. The ability to glide on the ice while looking at the sky scrapers surrounding you make ice skating in New York such a novelty.

This is a great way to break up a day of eating, shopping, and show seeing and it is a great option for people who like to keep your body moving, have kids, or need something romantic to do on a date.

Luckily, there are a lot of ice skating options in NYC to suit a variety of geographic limitations, budgets, and scenery preferences.

Brooklyn Info:

Prospect Park Ice skating:

Website: http://www.prospectpark.org/ice_skating

Season: November 26 - March 15

Hours: M: 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.; T: 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. ; W: 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. ; Th: 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.; F: 8:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. ; Sat: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; 2 – 6 p.m.; 7 – 10 p.m.; Sun: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; 2 – 6 p.m. (weather permitting - call (718) 287-6431 for updates)

Price: Adults: $5; Children (14 and under) & Seniors: $3; Skate Rental: $6.50

Location: In Prospect Park near the Parkside Avenue/Ocean Avenue entrance of the Park.

Directions: • Q, S, or B Train to Prospect Park station • B-41 bus to Flatbush Ave. and Ocean Ave. • B-43 bus to Ocean Ave. and Lincoln Rd. • B-48 bus to Lincoln Rd.

Manhattan Info

Wollman Rink in Central Park

Website: http://www.wollmanskatingrink.com/main_wollman.htm
Location:
Season:
Hours: M & T: 10:00am - 2:30pm; W & Th: 10:00am - 10:00pm; F & Sat: 10:00am - 11:00pm; Sun: 10:00am - 9:00pm.
Price: Adults: $10 - $14; Children: $5.25-$ 5.50; Seniors: $ 4.75-$8.25; Skate Rentals: $6 (tax incl.); Lock Rental: $ 4.25- $ 6; Spectator Fee: $5 (Deposit).
Directions:

Subway: Take the A, B, C, D, 1, 9 to 59th St; Take the N, R to 5th Ave.; Take the B, Q to
57th Street

Best Entrance: Central Park South (59th Street) and 6th Avenue. Wollman Rink is a two
minute walk into Central Park from this entrance. Follow the footpath directly into the park.


Rockefeller Center Rink

Website: http://www.patinagroup.com/east/iceRink/
Location: Enter from Fifth Avenue (Between 49th and 50th Streets)
Price: $19 for Adults, $12.50 for Children (under 11), and $9 skate rental.
Hours: Monday - Thursday 9:00am - 10:30pm, Friday - Saturday 8:30am - Midnight, Sunday 8:30am - 10:00pm
Directions: B, D, F, V at Rockefeller Center, 47-50 Streets


Bryant Park Rink

Website: http://www.thepondatbryantpark.com/
Location: located in Bryant Park, which is located between 40th and 42nd Streets and 5th and 6th Avenues.
Season: October 24, 2008 through January 25, 2009
Hours: Sunday - Thursday: 8am - 10pm; Friday & Saturday: 8am - Midnight
Price: General Admission: FREE; Skate Rentals: $12 Lockers: FREE; Locks: $9
Directions: B,D,F,V,7 to 42nd St., Bryant ParkA,C,E,1,2,3,N,R,Q,W to Times Square4,5,6 to Grand Central Station


I know that there are other rinks in the city, so if you know of one, please let the information in the comments.